Electrical snap-on wire connector



Feb, 22, 1949. s. E. WRIGHT ELEIC'IRIGAL SNAP-ON WIRE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1948 INVENTOR. W a B Feb. 22, 1949. s. E. WRIGHT ELECTRICAL SNAP-0N WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W4 W Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL SNAP-N WIRE CONNECTOR Stewart E. Wright, Cincinnati, Ohio Application February 4, 1948, Serial No. 6,286

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to snap-on connectors for use in connecting a tap or secondary wire to an elongated line wire or main line wire. My snapon connector is well adapted for use with distribution lines or transmission lines.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a wire snap-on connector which is simple in construction and operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a connector for connecting a tap wire to a main line wire in which the connector is held to the main line wire with spring tension.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a snap-on device iorconnecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire in which the wire engaging parts of the device may be constructed from stampings thereby making an eiiicient and economical snap-on device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire which has a body portion with a contact surface and has laterally spaced contact springs extending from this body portion and adapted to press the line wire thereagainst.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a line wire snap-on connector which when connected to the line wire is not loosened by the vibration of the line wire or does not mechanically injure the line wire.

. Another object of my invention is the provision of a wire connector in which the working parts do not become corrosively bound.

'My invention has for another of its objects the provision of a snap-on connector which is readily connected to or disengaged from a high voltage line and which prevents excessive sparking when it is connected to or disengaged from the high voltage line.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing my snap-on connector in actual use with an attachment pole, during the connecting or disconnecting of it from a high voltage line;

Figure 2 is a top end connector;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of my snap-on device or connector shown in perspective to better illustrate the construction of the parts;

Figure 4 illustrates a modification of my snapon device;

Figure 5 is a top view of my modified snap-on device as illustrated in Figure 4; and

View of my snap-on Figure 6 is a view taken along the lines 66 of Figure 5.

Linemen often connect tap wires to the line or distribution line without de-energizing the line. In referring to a line wire, I wish to include distribution lines, transmission lines and other wires used for conducting electricity. To make this connection, the linemen should have a snap-on device or wire connector which they may use in a quick, effective and safe manner without damaging the elongated line wire or distribution line. The present screw type hot line clamp is not a quick connected device and consequently tends to damage the wire through arcing. The linemen generally use operating handles, which may be up to eight or ten feet long and are constructed of an insulating material, to snap the snap-on device or wire connector onto the elongated line wire while standing at a safe distance from the line wire.

I have discovered that my snap-on device, in which the parts may be constructed of stampings or from forgings or castings, forms a good electrical connection between the tap wire and the line electrical wire. My snap-on device maintains this good electrical connection and thereby prevents sparking or other injury to the connector or the line wire. In many instances, it is necessary to leave the snap-on device on the distribution line for several days while major repairs are being made to the distribution line. My snap-on device has no parts which will cause it to become corrosively bound while it is connected to the line wire for this period of time. My snap-on device may be easily removed from the elongated line wire, such as the distribution line even though it has been connected for a long period of time. Previous connectors often become corrosively bound and are not easily removed.

In Figure l of my drawings, I illustrate my snap-on device It as being fastened on the end of an operating handle I! by a suitable claw and chuck arrangement l2. The Figure 1 further illustrates the snap-on device l0 as being clamped to a tap wire l3 and snapped on an elongated line wire [4, such as a distribution line. It is understood that this operating handle I I and the claw and chuck arrangement l2 carried thereby may be of any suitable design which will hold the snap-ondevice IE3 on the end of the operating handle to permit alignment of the snap-on device and the line wire for connecting the tap wire 18 to the elongated line wire l4 without the linemans being endangered or being subjected to electrical shock.

My snap-on device It! may preferably be constructed of stampings. The design and structure of each of the parts of my new and improved snap-on device is easily ascertainable in Figure 3 of the drawings. My snap-on device I in general comprises a body portion I6 having contact surfaces I! to engage the elongated line wire or distribution line. Wire engageable springs l8 and I9 are carried by this body portionlfi and, in my preferred device, extend outwardly through the contact surface I I. These wire .engageable, springs are laterally spaced to freely and transversely receive the elongated line wire therebetween, and each terminates in a line wire engagement portion. Each engagement or contact portion may be disposed opposite the contact surface and urged toward the contact surface to engage the line wire and thereby hold the same against the contact surface I 'I of the body portion I6. However, the engagement portions may be disposed entirely beyond the contact surface to engage the line wire projecting beyond the contact surface, or they may be disposed whereby the contact surface engagesthe line wire projecting beyond the wire engagement portions.

The body portion I of my snap-on device may be constructed of any suitable material which will conduct electricity. Although the body portion may be constructed from one piece, I have found it economical and practical tov construct it from two stamped pieces. Therefore, I preferably construct body portion I 5 from a pair of substantially L-shaped members and 2!, each having a fastening portion and a wire engageable portion.. These L-shaped members may also be constructed from castings or forgings. On the L-shaped member 20, the number 22 designates the fastening portion and the number 23 designates the engageable portion. On the L-shaped member 2I the number I22 designates the fastening portion and the number I23 designates the engageable portion. These fastening portions 22 and 122 of the L-shaped members 23 and 2| respectively are preferably riveted together by rivets 24,.but may be fastened by other suitable means such as soldering or bolting. The wire engageable portions .23 and I23 cooperate to define the line wire contact surface I I which is engageable by the elongated line Wire l4. When the fastening portions 22 and I22 of the L-shaped members are fastened together (or the L-shaped members 20 and 2] are fastened together in back-to-back relationship) the wire engageable portions 23 and I23 of these L-shaped members extend in opposite direction from the fastening portions. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have provided each of these wire engageable portions 23 and I23 with a line wire engageable groove 25 and I25 respectively. These wire engageable grooves 25 and I25 are in longitudinal alignment in the contact surface I! and are positioned to longitudinally receive the elongated line wire when the snap-on connector is fastened thereto.

The wire eng-ageable spring I8 is described as having a fastening portion 28 and a line wire contact portion 29 integrally connected by a spring portion 32, while the wire engageable spring 19, is described as having a fastening portion I28 and a line wire contact portion I29 integrally connected by a spring portion I30. These wire ongageable springs are fastened to and therefore carried by the fastening portions 22 and I22 of the L-shaped members 20 and 2! and extend outwardly from the contact surface IT. The fastening portions 28 and I 28 of the wire engageable or contact springs l8 and I9 respectively are dis posed between the fastening portions 22 and I22 of the L-shaped members 29 and 2! respectively and are securely held in place by the rivets 24 which hold the L-shaped members 20 and 2I together. The line wir contact portions 29 and I29 are positioned to press the elongated line wire I4 against the contact surface I7. I have found it advisable to provide these line wire contact portions 29 and I23 with grooves 3I and I3I respectively positioned in alignment with the grooves 25 and E25 of the L-shaped members. When the snap-on device is fastened or snapped on the elongated. line Wire I4 as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the line wire I4 engages both grooves 25 and E25, and 3! and l3l to prevent disconnection of the snap-on device from the elongated line wire by vibration. The grooves also ofier a great er contact area to the line wire.

The wire engageable springs I8 and I9 are laterally displaced, that is the engageable spring I8 is fastened on one side of the body portion and the engageable spring 19 .is fastened on the other side of the body portion. When the snap-on dcvice is snapped on the elongated line wire I4, the wire I4 engages the groove 25 and extends between the engageable spring I8 and the engageable spring ii). The contact portion 29 of the engageable spring it; therefore extends in one direction to engagethe line wire I4 while the contact portion I29 of the engageable spring I9 extends in the opposite direction to engage the line wire 14 at the same time. Although I have indicated in my drawings that these line wire contact portions 29 and 129 extend over th contact surface I7, and also longitudinally beyond the contact surface lI, it is understood that they may be positioned entirely over the contact surface, entirely beyond the contact surface, or partly over and partly beyond the contact surface. Similarly, the contact surface may extend longitudinally beyond the limits of the wire engageable springs. I hav further discovered that providing the contact portion 29 with a curved tip 32 and the contact portion i29 with a curved tip I32 guides the line wire between the contact portions 29 and I29 and the contact surface IT during connecting of the snap-on device to the high tension or a distribution line, and also causes a quick break or free disengagement of the wire and the connector.

The spring portions 3!! and I30 urge the respective line wire contact portions 29 and I29 in the general direction of the respective wire engageable portions 23 and I23 of the L-shaped members. The spring portions 33 and I30 of the wire engageable springs I8 and I9 respectively are disposed parallel to the grooves 25 and I25 withone spring portion on one side of the grooves and the other spring portion on the other side of the grooves whereby the line wire I4 may be freely received therebetween. The contact portions 29 and 29 extend from the side of their respective spring portions to engage the line wire I4 when the snap-on device is turned to connect it to the line wire. A long spring portion is also found preferable and is constructed by curving the spring portion as is illustrated in the drawings.

The tap wire I3 may be fastened to the body portion I6 of the snap-on device by a clamp 33 and a bolt 34. The bolt 34 extends through an opening 37 in the clamp 33 and openings 38 and I38 in the fastening portions 28 and I28 respectively of the L-shaped members and may be held in place by means of lock washer and nut 36. The end of the tap wire I3 is shOWn clamped between the clamp 33 and the L-shaped member 20. However, it is understood that the tap wire may be soldered to the body portion or electrically connected thereto by any other suitable means used in the electrical industry.

To connect my snap-on device onto the line electrical wire I4, such as an overhead high tension or a distribution line, the lineman fastens th snap-on device into. the claw and chuck arrangement I2 on the end of operating handle I I.

In my drawings, I have illustrated the L-shaped I members 29 and 2I as having openings 26 and I 25 to receive the claws of this claw and chuck I arrangement I2 to insure turning of the snap-on device when the handle I I is turned. The snap-on device is positioned against the elongated line wire I4, the elongated line wire I 4 being freely and transversely received between the wire engageable springs I8 and I9 and against the contact surface I I. When the contact surface I1 and the line wire M have come into engagement, the lineman turns the handle to turn in one direction, the snap-on device relative to the line wire I4. This turning of the snap-on device relative to the line wire causes. the line wire contact portions 29 and I29 of the wire engageable springs I8 and I9 respectively to be urged in a direction away from the respective engageable portions of the L-shaped members and against the urging of the wire engageable springs. The instant the grooves 25 and I25, and 3I and I3I in the wire engageable portions of the L-shaped members and the wire contact poltions'of the engageable springs respectively are longitudinally in alignment with the elongated line wire I4, the urging of the engageable springs I8 and Iii lock the line wire in the snap-on device. Thus, the line wire is contacted by the snap-on device at spaced intervals, there by dampening vibration and insuring non-damaging but positive electrical contact between the line wire and the tap wire. After the high tension line or elongated line wire has been completely repaired or when the lineman wants to disconnect the tap, he simply turns the operating handle in the opposite direction to disengage the wire contact portions of the wire engageable springs from the line wire. I have discovered that by providing these line wire contact portions 29 and I29 with the curved tips 32 and I32, the urging of the curved spring portions will cause these ciuved tips 32 and I32 to snap the wire contact portions away from the line wire I4 during disengagement, thus providing a fast, non-sparking break in the electrical contact.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 of my drawings, I illustrate a modified device in which I have greatly reduced the length of the spring portion of the line wire engageable springs. The operation of the snap-on device is the same as that of the preferred embodiment of my invention as shown in Figure 1. The line wire engageable or contact springs are laterally spaced to receive the line wire therebetween and are adapted to clamp the line wire against the contact surface upon turning of the snap-on device relative to the line wire.

It is also thought that the wire engageable springs can be constructed integral with the L- 'shaped' members, thus eliminating the extra 6 that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a body portion adapted to be fastened to the tap wire, said body portion comprising a pair of I shaped members fastened in back-to-back relationship and defining a contact surface to be engaged by the line wire, wire engageable spring means carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface, said wire engageable spring means terminating in line wire contact means urged toward the said contact surface to engage the line wire to thereby hold the same between the contact surface and the wire engagement surface when the snap-on device is connected to the elongated line wire.

2. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising '1' a body portion adapted to be clamped in an operating handle and fastened to the tap wire, said body portion comprising a pair of L-shaped members fastened in back-to-back relationship and defining a contact surface to be engaged by the line wire, first and second wire engageable spring means carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from the said contact surface and laterally spaced apart to freely and transversely receive the said elongated line wire therebetween,

: said first and second wire engageable spring means each terminating in line wire contact means urged toward the said contact surfaceto engage the line wire at spaced points to hold the same against the contact surface when the snapon device is connected to the line wire.

3. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a body portion adapted to be clamped in an operating handle and fastened to the tap wire, said body portion having a contact surface to be engaged by the line wire, a first line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface, a second line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface and laterally spaced from said first line wire engageable spring to freely and transversely receive said elongated line wire therebetween, said first and said second line wire engageable springs respectively having reversely disposed wire engagement portions extending in substantially opposite direction, said wire engagement portions each having a wire engagement surface facing said contact surface to engage the line wire and to thereby hold the same between the contact surface and the wire engagement surface upon turning the snap-on device relative to the elongated line wire.

4. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a body portion adapted to be clamped in an operating handle and fastened to the tap wire, said body portion comprising a pair of L-shaped members fastened in back-to-back relationship and defining a contact surface to be engaged by the line wire, a first line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface, a second line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface and laterally spaced :from :said first line "wire engageable spring to:freely and transversely receive said elongated line wire ith'erebetween, said first andsaid second line wire engageable springs respectively having reversely disposed wire engagement portions extending in substantially opposite directions, said wire engagement portions each having a, wire engagement surface facing said contact surface to engage the line wire and to thereby hold the same between the contact surface and the wire engagement surface upon turning the snap-on device relative to the elon gated line wire.

:5. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a body portion adapted to be clamped in an operating handle and fastened to the tap wire, said body portion having a contact surface to be engaged .by the line wire, a first line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface, a second line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said Contact surface and laterallyspaced from said first line wire engageable spring to freely and transversely receive said elongated line wire therebetw'e'en, said first and said second line wire engageable springs respectively having reversely disposed wire engagement portions extending in substantially opposite directions, said wire engagement portions each having a wire engagement surface to engage the line wire projecting beyond the contact surface of the body portion and to thereby hold the same between the wire en'gagementsurf-acerand the contact surface upon turning the snap-on device relative to the elonated line wire.

6. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a body portion adapted to be clamped in an op erating handle and fastened to the tap vire, said body portion comprising a pair of L-shaped members fastened in back-to-back relationship and defining a contact surface to be engaged by the line wire, a first line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface, a second line wire engageable spring carried by said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface and laterally spaced from said first line wire engageable spring to freely and transversely receive said elongated line wire therebetween, said first and said second line wire engageable springs respectively having reversely disposed wire engagement portions extending in substantially opposite directions, said wire engagement portions each having a wire engagement surface to engage the line wire projecting beyond the contact surface of the body portion and to thereby hold the same between the wire engagement surface and the contact surface upon turning the snapon device relative to the elongated line wire.

'7. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a first L -shaped member defining a body portion and a line Wire engageable portion, a second .L-shaped member defining a body portion fasten'able to the body portion of the first L- shaped member and a line wire engageable portion disposed in the plane of the wire engageable portion of the first L-shaped member, a

rst line wire engageable spring having a'fastening portion thereof disposed between the said L-sh'aped members and carriedth'ereby, a second line wire engageable spring also h'aving a fastening portion thereof disposed between the said L-shaped members and carried thereby and laterally spaced from said first line wire engageable spring to freely and transversely receive said elongated line wire therebetween, said first and said second line wire engageable springs extending from between said L-shap'ed members and respectively having reversely disposed wire engagement portions extending in substantially opposite directions, said wire engagement portions each having a wire contact surface facing its respective Wire engageable portion of the respective L-shaped member to engage the line wire and to thereby hold the same against the wire engageable portions of the L-shaped members upon turning the snap-on device relative to the elongated line wire.

8. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a first L-shaped member defining a body portion and a line wire engageable portion, a second L--shaped member definin a body portion fastenable to the body portion of the first L-shaped member and a line wire engageable portion disposed in the plane of the wire engageable portion of the first L-shaped member, a first line wire engageable spring having a fastening portion thereof disposed between said L-shaped members and carried thereby, a second line wire engageable spring also having a fastening portion thereof disposed between said L-shaped members and carried thereby and laterallyspac'ed from said first line wire engageable spring to freely and transversely receive said elongated line wire therebetween, said first and said second line wire engageable spring extending from between said 'L -shaped members and respectively having 40 reversely disposed wire engagement portions extending in substantially opposite directions, said wire engagement portions each having a wire contact surface to engage the line wire projecting beyond the wire engageable portions of the L-shaped members to thereby hold the same against the wire engageable portions of the L- shaped members upon turning the snap-on device relative to the elongated line wire.

9. A snap-on device for connecting a tap wire to an elongated line wire, said device comprising a body portion adapted to be fastened to the tap wire, said body portion comprising a pair of L-shaped members fastened in back-to-back relationship and defining a contact surface to be engaged by the line wire, wire engageable spring means joined with said body portion and extending outwardly from said contact surface, said wire engageable spring means terminating in line wire contact means urged toward the said contact surface to engage the line wire to thereby hold the same between the contact surface and the wire engagement surface when the snap-on device is connected to the elongated line wire.

STEWART E. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 862,082 Lewis July '30, 1907 2,279,807 Yonkers Apr. 14, 1942 

